The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-03-18
THE ALIEN LAND LAW.

OF the laws enacted by the late Con.
gress none displayed more statesman
ship than that to restrict the ownership
OF lands in the Territories to American
citizens. For the last quarter of
century rich foreigners have been
active in acquiring title to land in this
country. The disposition has grown
with they years, until very grave evil
threatens to come upon the country
Utah is the only Territory in which
vast tracts of land are not owned by
foreigners, and in some of the
States this alien ownership covers
territory larger than many Euro
pean kingdoms. These alien owners
are not even residents; their
homes are abroad, and they have no
sympathy with the American institu-
tons or people. The lands are with
held from settlement, and bona fde
citizens are deprived Of the homes ana
possessions which our liberal land laws
contemplated should be theies. The
intent or purpose OF the government In
regard to the publIc land was to confer
it on worthy citizens who would create
homes and hold it for the benefit and
support and strength of the nation.
Aside from the danger of alien owner
ship of lands, the evil of vast holdings
is something which should be combat
ted in this country. We want no sys-
tenn of proprietorship like that which
is so burdensome and attended
by such hardships in Scotland
and Ireland. where English landlords
own the soil which they never
saw, and extort exorbitant rents from
the unhappy occupants who are too
poor to remove. and who must there
fore submit to the oppression or starve.
The danger had become threatening in
this country, hence the action of Con-
gress was taken mona too soon. The
bill destroys an evil which had attained
formidable proportions, but. had not
asserted itself oppressiyely as it would
have done ten years hence. The text OF
the bill as passed is as follows:
SECTION 1. That it shall be unlawful for
any person or persons not citizens of the
United States. or who have not lawfully de-
clared their intention to become such citi-
zens, or for any corporation not created by
or under the laws of the United States, or of
some State or Territory OF the United States,
to hereafter acquire, hold, or own real estate
fSa- "a 4ro INT
in, in any of the Territories of the United
States or in the District OF Columbia. except
such as may be acquired by inheritance or
in good faith in the ordinary course of
justice in the collection of debts heretofore
created; provided that the prohibition of
this section shall not apply to cases in which
the right to hold or dispose of lands in the
United States is secured by existing treaties
to the citizens or subjects of foreign
countries, which rights, SO far as they may
exist by force of any such treaty, shall con-
tinue to exist so long as such treaties are in
force, and no longer.
SEC. 2. That no corporation or association
more than % per cent. of the stock of which
is or may be owned by any person or persons,
corporation or corporations, association or
associations not citizens of the United
States shall hereafter acquire or hold or own
any real estate hereafter acquir, 4 in any of
th Q Te-Eitorios of the United States or of the
District of Columbia.
SEC. 8. That no corporation other than
those organized for the construction or
operation of railways, canals, or turnpik.s
shall az quire, hold, or own more than 5 900
acres Of land in any of the Territories of the
United States, and no railroad, canal, or
turnpike corporation shall hereafter acquire,
hold, or own lands in any Territory oth-r
than as may be necessary for the proper
operation of its railroad. canal, or turnpike.
except such lands as may have been granted
to II by act of Congress; but the prohibition
OF this section shall not Effect the title to
any lands now lawfully held by any such
corporation
SEC. 4; That all property acquired, held.
or owned in violation of the provisions of
this act shall be forfeited to the United
States, and it shall be the the duty of the
Attorney-Gen to enforce every such for
feituie by bill in equity or other proper pro- |
cess. And in any suit or proceeding that |
may be commenced 10 enforce the pro- |
visions of this act, it shall be the duty OF the
court TO determine the very right of the |
matter, without regard to matters OF form, |
lo1nder Of parties, multifariousness. or other |
matters not affecting the Substantial rights |
either of the United States or of the parties |
concerned in any such proceeding arising |
out of the matters in this act mentioned.